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The Astad Deboo Chat

The folks who logged into the first Rediff Travel Chat on Friday night featuring dancer Astad Deboo were more keen on chatting about terpsichore than tours.

Nevertheless, Astad very patiently sat down to answer all sorts of queries -- even about his choice of a companion should he be abandoned on a desert island -- though he was eager to discuss his trip up to the Arctic Circle in Canada.

And before leaving the Rediff office a few minutes after midnight, India's bestknown modern dancer obliged staffers with a five minute impromptu performance. Now we know why he's such a hit. We wish there was some way to translate dance steps into html files... maybe in another decade.

Nikhil Lakshman (Fri Oct 18 22:30:22 1996 IST):

Hi, Astad. Welcome to the Rediff Chat. It is wonderful to have you here. I hope you enjoy the experience.

Hi everybody out there!

Good morning, Mr Deboo. I didn't know you had won a SNA award. When did that happen?

It happened this year in Sept. The awards were announced by the Govt of India.

Hi Astad, sorry, I plead ignorance but are there Eskimoes in the Arctic?

Yes there are Eskimoes in the Arctic but the politically correct word is Innuits.

hi Astad, Banoo

To continue -- from what the rangers informed me that the name Eskimoes was given by the Native Indians.

Astad.. You teach dance.. but what is the style called? Do you hold classes and is it only in Bombay?

Hi Banoo. I am glad you were able to log in.

Sorry, Mr Deboo. Got logged out. Did you feel the award was a rich reward for all your hard work?

Thanks Astad...

But hey should we ask about your arctic adventures or about your art form? Won't it get confusing if we ask both?

Sorry, folks, I am late! Great to meet with you Astad, What's a guy like you doing on a Travel Chat?

I teach dance not on a regular basis. The only group of people who I teach is a group in Calcutta called The Action Players, a young group of dynamic and enthusiastic actors who are hearing impaired. My style of dance is my own but in a broader sense it would fall under the umbrella of contemporary dance and I do hold classes or more so workshops in various parts of India as well as overseas.

Hi Astad, You have a program scheduled next week in California.Is it right?.

Hi Mr. Deboo, or may I call you Astad? I really love your dance forms but would like to learn more about the inspiration and meaning behind them... I hope to get some answers on this chat :-)

Greetings from Hong Kong. It is rather late here, but I thoiught I should log in, having caught your show a couple of years back. The Arctic must have made a lot of difference from your other trips. How many months of the year are you away from your home? Do you live in Mumbai?

Hey guys, why is it so slow? Are the Videsh Sanchar lines always so darned slow?

Hi Astad, Hi folks....got to log in luckily as the BOSS stepped out for a meeting which will stretch thru lunch. Have I missed anything....let me read and catch up...

Bikram: Yes I did feel good about getting the award because for the last 20 years I have been trying to establish the movement of innovative dance in our dance system. So it has been a long and arduous trek and this award I hope will help in opening doors in other parts of India and also I hope in the future young dancers, who would like to pursue in the field of innovation, will feel optimistic.

Astad.. thanks..it sounds interesting.. but please consider people like us too who just love dancing.. You travel too..Tell me.. are your travels equally interesting and which are the places you like the most?

Which is the most exotice location you have been to in your life?

When did you start travelling?

How old are you? How many years have you been dancing?

Hello Astad Deboo. Looking forward to chatting with you.

Eskimo Chief: It is up to you. I won't get confused but as this is a Travel Chat show travel is preferable but hey I won't knock it if you want to ask about dance... go right ahead.

Thank you, Mr Deboo. I'll catch up.

Astad.. thanks..it sounds interesting.. but please consider people like us too who just love dancing.. You travel too..Tell me.. are your travels equally interesting and which are the places you like the most?

J Srikantan: Well as I have been a traveller besides being a dancer so that is why I am here to share my experience about my travels.

Which is the most exotic location you have been to in your life?

Which is the richest compliment you have received in your career?

Astad.. thanks..it sounds interesting.. but please consider people like us too who just love dancing.. You travel too..Tell me.. are your travels equally interesting and which are the places you like the most?

Astad Sir, can you share your most thrilling moment's from your recent Arctic adventures....

sateesh: No, I don't have a show in California next month. I have one coming up next year at the Asian museum of Arts in Frisco. The date has not been confirmed. the ellen:Go ahead. ashwin:Yes I am based in Mumbai. And my trip to the Arctic was a holiday after having finished choreographing a work on the students at Galludet University, which is a school for the hearing impaired in Washington DC.

Do you feel artistes far less talented than you have done better?

Did you go on the trip with a scientific expedition? Can you tell us a bit about the travel to and your stay there? Let's start with your journey to the Arctic.

Do you work a great deal with the hearing impaired? I read an article in one of the Indian newspapers last year about your work with the people in Calcutta. How many artistes do this kind of work? Truly commendable!

You seem to work a lot with the physically challenged. Is there a reason for that?

hi, astaad, i am 29, but the first time i saw u was on black n white doordarshan when i was a school kid. i loved it. your picture on the rediff page shows you don't seem to have changed much. what's the secret?